Bill, just add about 1/4 inch or less of washers behind the spring and
screw it all back together, start it up and see what you have. Some people
put in a 1/2 inch ball bearing instead of the tapered plunger which has a
history of hanging open at the wrong time. This is also know as the $1.95
rebuild before you sell the car. Did the plunger come out easily or did it
have some resistance to it? If resistance was felt you just might have had
a piece of trash wedged in it. BTDT SAFETY FAST BOB
>From: Bill Mantz <bmantz@roanoke.infi.net>
>Reply-To: Bill Mantz <bmantz@roanoke.infi.net>
>CC: "spridgets@autox.team.net" <spridgets@autox.team.net>
>Subject: Re: Crankshaft bearings?
>Date: Mon, 03 Jul 2000 22:19:43 -0400
>
>Looks like there's a good chance that it's the oil pressure relief valve.
>Several reasons:
>1. One side of the lower portion of the spring is shiny - possible due to
>excessive use.
>2. I don't have my micrometers at home, but the spring appears to measure
>about 1/8 short. ( Don't need a micrometer to see that!)
>3. The plunger itself has some shiney spots that could be worn.
>I've ordered a new spring, plunger, and washer. I'll let eveyone know the
>results.
>
>Bill Mantz
>Roanoke, Va.
>1958 Bugeye
>1971 Midget
>
>Frank Clarici wrote:
>
> > Bill Mantz wrote:
> > >
> > > Here's the problem. Car has good oil pressure at startup, then after
> > > about 5-10 miles the pressure starts to drop and temperature starts to
> > > rise.Car had a complete head job in March according to previous owner
>-
> > > invoice shows valves, guides, seals, and machine work. I dropped the
>oil
> > > pan with the intention of replacing the main bearings. Although
>outside
> > > appearance means nothing, the whole bottom end looks new. Spotless,
>the
> > > pickup filter even shines. Before I drop the caps on the bearings, is
> > > there any thing else I might check first that could be the problem?
> >
> > If you are talking about a 1275, check the oil pressure relief spring.
> > I put a new one in my Sprite when I rebuilt it. Little did I know it was
> > of top asian quality. It lasted a few months and I lived with low oil
> > pressure on the gauge. Peter C sent me a REAL, non taiwanese spring and
> > I now have 60 psi when hot even after cruising for 3 hours on the
> > turnpike.
> > I rebuilt my own engine, I trust my machine shop too, I thought it was
> > just the gauge calibration so I replaced the gauge. After some thought,
> > I checked the OPR spring, it was shot. A spring from a pen was stronger
> > then this whimpy asian crap I pulled out. I had a helluva time getting
> > the the new spring in and I knew that was my problem.
> > --
> > Frank Clarici
> > Toms River, NJ
> > If you are not living on the edge,
> > You're taking up too much space!
> > http://www.exit109.com/~spritenut
>
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